Sunil Mittal Claims Approval Lead Over Starlink as Reliance Responds

India's satellite internet approval race has become a public argument over who has waited longest and whether domestic competitors are obstructing Starlink. According to Scroll.in, Elon Musk repeatedly accused Reliance and Indian "oligarchs" of stalling his service's launch.

Asked about Musk's remarks regarding Indian telecom billionaires, Sunil Mittal said several companies were awaiting regulatory approvals and that he believed he was ahead of Musk in the queue, Bloomberg reported. That is Mittal's assessment, not a confirmed regulatory ranking.

On October 14, Times now reported that Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal had asserted that his group was ahead of Starlink in securing approvals for satellite connectivity in India.

Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026, Mittal said: "I think I am significantly ahead in the queue from him. I applied five years back," according to Business Line - Home. He said he would be happy to receive approval at least a few days before Musk.

The same day, Times of India Top Stories reported India's message to Starlink: comply with the rules before entering the market.

On October 16, Reliance publicly responded to Musk's allegations. The company said it welcomed competition, including Starlink, and had never feared it, according to Times of India Top Stories.

Reliance also pointed to its own unfinished approval process. The Hindu reported that Jio's satellite services were awaiting clearances, while India News reported the company's position that all players, including Jio, must abide by Indian laws and face the same government process.

The coverage describes competing services awaiting regulatory decisions, not a completed approval race. Mittal's claim rests on his account of an application made five years earlier, as reported by Business Line - Home. The supplied reporting does not establish an official queue order or approval date.

Reliance's response is that Starlink is welcome to compete, but must meet Indian requirements just as Jio must. Its statement that Jio also awaits clearances, reported by The Hindu, counters the suggestion that only Starlink faces regulatory delays. It does not resolve Musk's allegations.

The next concrete development is a regulatory clearance for one of the competing services. Whether Mittal receives approval before Starlink remains unconfirmed, and the supplied coverage gives no timetable. Jio's pending clearances are another test of how the approval process proceeds, according to Business Line - Home.